Pedestal table with reversible top mechanism



y 31, 1951 o. H. HUNTER PEDESTAL TABLE WITH REVERSIBLE TOP MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2,3 3 2. W Z I 5 O 2 a r 3 w 7 z I r m 2 M w 2 6/ 7/////// w/ /////5J////////////4 a 2 5 F 2 IF 4| 1! G 4 7| 6 O f H 3 3 4 J w 9. H z

5 H 2 a 5 a .M V i+ Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,562,426 1. PEDESTAL TABLE wrrr REVERSIBLE Tor MECHANISM Orson H. Hunter, Santa Ana, Calif.

Application September 7, 1948, Serial No. 48,630

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tables and more particularly relates to a table having a reversible top, or article-supporting portion, and has as a general object the provision of a table which may be specifically and appropriately adapted to a variety of uses.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a table having a detachabletop, either side of which may be used as an article-supporting surface, and having easily accessible and operable means for holdingthe top securely to the table base with either side of the top presented upwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table having a base adapted to receive either side of a detachable tableetop and including substantially concealed mechanism for securing the table-top to the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table having a central base of sufficient mass to afford stability to the table and containing and substantially concealing spring means for holding a table top detachably secured to the base so as to avoid the looseness and rattling which usually characterises tables of alterable form and to give an impression of solidity when the table is moved or lifted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, or will be apparent from the accompanying drawings illustrative of that embodiment, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical medial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the table illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the table, parts of the holding mechanism being shown in broken line as in phantom view;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary horizontal section view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragment in elevation from the direction of view indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the crank mechanism for a plurality of flexible connecting links l0, and a unit mechanism II for simultaneously tensing all of the links it and locking them in tensed posi-- tion.-

The table top 9 is herein illustrated as being circular but it may be of any shape providing for substantially symmetrical attachment of the links 10, such as square or even oblong or oval. Both sides of the table top are preferably suited to be displayed uppermost, as article-supporting surfaces, and it is contemplated that the two sides will have different finishes, designs, or textures making them suitable for use on different occasions. For example, one side of the top 8 may be surfaced with polished mahogany veneer, making it suitable for a formal tea-table, and the other side may be ena'melled or surfaced with an alcohol-resistant plastic. Or one side may be painted with a backgammon-board and the other be painted with a checker-board.

The base t is preferably of a shape conforming to the top 8 which is to be supported. In conformance with the circular top herein illustrated, the base 9 is shown as being circular at all levels and comprising a foot or plinth 13, from which rises a tub'ular'column it surmounted by an upwardly belled upper portion I5 which extends radially to the vicinity of the perimeter N5 of the top 8 and provides a supporting surface 11, on which the top may rest. It will be understood, however, that the exact shape of the base 9 is unimportant, it being of importance only that the upper portion i5 is radially nearly coextensive'with the top 8 at a plurality of points, and

it is desirable that these nearly coextensive points be spaced symmetrically around the base, as may be achieved by spider arms. t is also desirable that the radially extending upper portion or portions [5 be belled outwardly from a position on the column 14 some distance below the supporting surface I l to form a smoothly faired curve as shown at E8 in Fig. 2, The outer margins of the radially extending portions I5 are'prefera'bly chamfered to form inwardly and downwardly slopin'g faces 59 between the supporting surface 11 and the faired curve I8.

A plurality of channels 2! are formed in the upper portion l5 communicating between the interior cavity 22 of the column l4 and the sloped faces I9, and emerging from the latter through openings 23, spaced from the supporting surface I! by a shoulder 24. Each of the channels 2| contains a strap-like member or tape 25.

The tapes 25 are of flexible material, such as steel tape, so as easily to follow the channels 2| and to bend at their points of exit from the channels. The lower ends 26 of the tapes 25 ex-.

tend downwardly in the cavity 22 through slots 21 in a plate 28, and are tipped with heads 29. The heads 29 are held resiliently spaced from the plate 28 by springs 30, individually mounted on each of the tapes 25 between the head 29 thereof and the plate 28. The upper ends 3| of the tapes 25 extend outwardly through the openings 23 and terminate in rigid fiat inwardly turned fingers 32 which may be annealed portions of the tapes or may be suitable fittings attached to the tapes.

At intervals corresponding to the placement of the openings 23 in the base 9, the top 8 is provided with suitable fittings to receive the fingers 32. The fittings, as shown in Fig. 4, may be plates 34 provided with slots 35 admitting to recesses 36 in the top 8 and secured to the top by fasteners 31. The slots 35 are preferably disposed midway between the article-supporting surfaces of the top 8, so that in either reversible position of the top they are equally well placed to receive the fingers 32. r

A rod 40 extends through the plate 28 and is held in vertical adjustment with respect thereto by nuts 4|. The rod 40 preferably fits loosely in the plate 28, and is held loosely by the nuts 4|, to permit arcuate movement of the rod relative to the plate. At its lower end the rod 48 is provided with a horizontal arm 42 which is engaged by a crank arm 43. The crank arm 43 is secured to a shaft 44, journalled in a suitable journal box 45 mounted on the tubular column [4 and has an upward extension 46 adapted to engage a stop 41 on the journal box 45 to limit the movement of the crank arm after it has passed a deadcenter position as best shown in Fig. 5. The shaft 44 extends through the wall of the tubular column l4 and is fitted with a handle 48.

A modified form of mounting the crank shaft 44 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The foot 13 of the base 9 has a threaded opening 51 admitting to the interior cavity 22 of the tubular column [4. A block 52 is threadedly secured in the opening and has secured to its upper surface by bolts 53 a bracket 54 in which the shaft 44 is journalled. The bracket 54 is provided with a stop 55 to engage the extension 46 of the crank arm 43 in the manner hitherto described.

To secure the table top 8 to the base 9, the top is placed upon the supporting surface I! in either of its reversible positions and with the plates 34 radially aligned with the openings 23 of the channels 2|. The handle 48 is turned horizontally to permit upward movement of the rod 40 and of the plate 28. The movement of the rod 40 caused by rotation of the crank arm 43 is suificient not only to release compression upon the springs 39 but to permit lifting of the plate 28 so that the tapes may be moved outwardly through the channels 2| to allow the fingers 32 to be inserted in the slots 35. The bandle 48 is then again moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the plate 28 is again pulled downwardly to cause the springs first to take up any slack in the tapes 25 and then to tense the tapes by compression of the springs 38. As the openings 23 are slightly below and slightly inward from the perimeter of the table top 8, the tapes are pulled tightly upon the shoulders 24. The inward and downward tension so exerted upon a plurality of symmetrically arranged points on the top 8 is such that the top is held centered upon the base 9 and in firm engagement therewith. The angular relationship of the crank arm 43 and the handle 48 is such that the crank arm will pass over dead center when the handle is moved to its vertical position, and the stop 41 or 55 will immediately engage the extension 46 to lock the linkage mechanism 10 in tensed position.

To release the tension on the linkage mechanism [0, for the purpose of removing or reversing the top 8, the handle 48 is simply moved to again bring the crank arm 43 past dead center in the opposite direction.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms herein disclosed for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as covering modifications and variations thereof within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A table comprising: a top, reversible to provide alternative upper surfaces; a base having upper portions extending to the vicinity of the perimeter of said top and providing a surface for supporting said top, and an open central portion, and having a plurality of channels communicating between said open central portion and the exterior of said upper portions at positions below said supporting surface; a plurality of flexible tapes individual to said channels and extending therethrough and having their one end disposed outwardly and upwardly from said channels and their other ends disposed vertically within said central portion; rigid end portions on said one ends of said tapes; fittings on said top engageable with said rigid end portions in either of the reversible positions of said top; a plate; springs individual to each of said tapes and resiliently connecting said other ends of said tapes and said plate; crank means journalled in said base and operatively connected to said plate for moving said plate so as to exert resilient tension through said springs simultaneously on all of said tapes; and means for arresting said crank means in an over-center position for locking said plate in tensioning position.

ORSON I-I. HUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 13,014 Tyden Aug. 24, 1909 1,133,804 Kaufman Mar. 30, 1915 1,157,539 Huhn m Oct. 19, 1915 1,395,166 Tomlinson Oct. 25, 1921 1,800,685 Griflis Apr. 14, 1931 2,010,394 Herman Aug. 6, 1935 2,185,910 Cox Jan. 2, 1940 2,370,407 McCartney Feb. 27, 1945 2,406,952 Josepho Sept. 3, 1946 

